participants from different faith traditions, dressed in their respective attire chanted songs of peace and unity. participating in the interfaith procession. / Courtesy Photo/ JR Sandadi

The 12th annual Festival of Faiths took place on Sept. 15 at downtown Indianapolis, bringing the community together in prayer and unity to celebrate peace and harmony.

Organized by the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC), this year the festival was themed "Exploring Peace through Your Faith". It began with a procession around the Indiana War Memorial, where participants from different faith traditions, dressed in their respective attire chanted songs of peace and unity.

Following that, the formal program began with prayers from religious leaders of various faiths. The Hindu community was represented by JR Sandadi, the vice chairman of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation. Addressing the gathering, he said, “In a world of diverse paths, Hinduism reminds us that peace is found when we embrace our shared divinity and work together for the welfare of all—'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah'—may all be happy, may all be peaceful.”

The festival featured interactive booths from various faith organizations like the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana, Indiana Buddhist Center, Masjid Al-Fajr, Indianapolis Brahma Kumaris, Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, among others.

At each booth, attendees had the chance to engage with various aspects of each faith—whether by trying on a hijab with the Muslim community, experiencing turban draping with the Sikh community, or tying a Raksha Sutra (sacred thread) with the Hindu community.

The Hindu booth at the festival. / Courtesy Photo/ JR Sandadi

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) was among the two Hindu organizations present at the festival, and their booth provided a cultural and spiritual experience for those who attended. HSS volunteers provided valuable insights into essential Hindu values and traditions, highlighting the importance of practices like Yoga for both physical and mental well-being. They also discussed the significance of sacred symbols such as Om and the Swastika, which embody auspiciousness, balance, and cosmic order in Hindu philosophy.

Participants were introduced to meditative techniques designed to cultivate mindfulness and inner peace, in accordance with the Hindu principle of sustaining harmony both internally and with the external environment. HSS volunteers also tied Rakshas, or protective threads, around the wrists of attendees. This thread, traditionally tied during the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, was presented as a symbol of the shared human responsibility to protect and support one another.

women’s panel discussion titled How My Faith Helps Me Find Peace: A Conversation. / Courtesy Photo/ JR Sandadi

A highlight of the festival was the women’s panel discussion titled How My Faith Helps Me Find Peace: A Conversation. Moderated by CIC Executive Director Charlie Wiles, the panel brought together distinguished leaders from various faith communities including Harinder Kaur, an engineer with Tata Consultancy Service and Dr. Priya Menon, M.D., from the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana among others.

Representing the Sikh community, Harinder emphasized seeing divinity in all through sewa (selfless service) while Priya Menon shared insights from her Hindu faith, and emphasized the importance of dharma (righteousness) and ahimsa (non-violence) in fostering harmony. The panel concluded with a ceremonial water ritual, where each panelist poured water from their sacred vessels into a shared container. This symbolic act represented the unity of divinity across faiths and humanity’s connection with nature.

The festival also included a cultural program featuring a Bharatanatyam performance by students from Laya Dance Academy, kirtan by the Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis, and a choir performance by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"The Festival of Faiths was not just a celebration of different religions but a celebration of what connects us as human beings. Walking away from the event, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the experience. It wasn’t just about learning from others; it was about the realization that in our shared pursuit of peace, we’re far more alike than we are different. This event showed me the beauty of diversity and the power of unity in building a more peaceful world,"JR Sandadi said.